The Redhill centre, which was run by Wye Valley NHS Trust, Hereford Voice reported on it's closure in April after clinical commissioning group representatives said the move would save some £500,000 which would be re-invested in healthcare provision in the community.

But now the council, who owns the site, hopes to use it to plug the county’s dire need for nursing facilities for residents with dementia.

In a report to this week’s adults and wellbeing scrutiny committee leader Jonathan Lester said: “There is not enough current capacity to meet the high demand for nursing/elderly mental infirm placements.

“The risk of not undertaking the redesign of Hillside will exacerbate the current situation by putting a greater strain on the adults budget and will not plan effectively for the expected increase in future demand.”